England to back credible challenger to Blatter
Reuters - Monday 07 March 2011, 17:05
LONDON - The English Football Association
(FA) would support any credible challenger to Sepp Blatter for
the FIFA presidency this year, Reuters has been told.
The FA would also consider writing to Mohamed Bin Hammam,
the Qatari president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC),
to offer him its support, according to sources close to the
situation.
Bin Hammam, a former ally of Blatter's, has strongly hinted
he is considering a bid for football's top position, although he
has yet to declare his official candidature.
Blatter, who will be 75 on Thursday and was named by The
Times newspaper last week as the most powerful man in world
sport, is seeking a fourth term as president, the position he
has held since succeeding Joao Havelange in 1998.
"We believe that three terms is long enough as FIFA
president, and we should write to him (Bin Hammam) to offer our
support," said an FA source on condition of anonymity.
The FA is known to still be upset over the way England's
candidature for the 2018 World Cup finals was dismissed by FIFA
in December, and part of the initiative for a new man at the top
is believed to stem from what happened then.
"FIFA needs a complete overhaul, a change of leadership and
a modernising, younger man at the helm," sources said.
It would not be the first time the FA has opposed Blatter's
presidency. After backing him in 1998, it supported Issa Hayatou
of Cameroon, the president of the Confederation of African
Football (CAF), who was well beaten by Blatter in the 2002
presidential election. Blatter stood unopposed in 2007.
"The matter has not been discussed but will be considered by
the FA Board when nominations have closed and the FIFA Congress
agenda has been published," an FA spokesman said.
ONLY CANDIDATE
Blatter is so far the only candidate for the election at the
FIFA Congress in Zurich on June 1. Deadlines for nominations
close on March 31 and candidates only need the backing of one of
FIFA's 208 national associations to stand.
Bin Hammam, a member of the executive committee since 1996,
has dropped several hints he is planning to stand against
Blatter, and this weekend told his Facebook and Twitter
followers: "Competition is the best way to make the organisation
vibrant and alive. Competition is good for the organisation,
whether president or any other posts."
Blatter, however, remains the overwhelming favourite to
continue as FIFA president.
Speaking in Newport, Wales on Saturday after the annual
meeting of the law-making International Football Association
Board, he dismissed allegations of corruption levelled at his
organisation.
"In any situation you cannot please everybody," he said.
"That's not possible. I think we are doing a great job.
"Corruption is cheating. But who is cheating?," Blatter
added.
Blatter said the election process was taking place and the
race was open.
"I have received support from different national
associations to stand again," he said. If I win ok, if lose I
say thank you then go away.
"I'm trying to bring some social and cultural impact. If
there are some other candidates then we will face other
candidates. That's a democratic system."